First, spend some time observing a place that you are in on a regular basis. It might be a place that you work, or a pla

[answerhappygod]

First, spend some time observing a place that you are in on a
regular basis. It might be a place that you work, or a place that
you meet with friends. Maybe it is a grocery store, or laundromat,
or school. It should be a place that you can observe directly, and
make some notes or take some pictures. While it is familiar to you,
it can be helpful to imagine that you don’t know what it is. In
your essay you want to describe the design and figure out how it
‘speaks.’ That is, how does the design of this environment show
everyone here what is expected? What types of objects are here, and
how do they orient those who are here? What roles are set up by
this form? How does the design reveal how a culture thinks, or what
is valued or considered important? If we don’t take for granted the
normalcy of this site, we can figure out how it ‘normalizes’
practices, values, norms, etc. Keep in mind that you will not be
able to examine everything. Choose a specific area to observe and
start there. What spatial features are prominent? What are the
specific details of the design? Remember that our goal is to ‘make
the link’ – to show how the spatial features/design sets up a
‘framework for thinking and acting.’
PART II In the second section of your paper, set up a
contrast. What is a different version of this type of space? For
example, in Part I, you might look at a local, high-end restaurant,
which you then contrast with some of the features of a fast-food
restaurant. They are both restaurants but their differences in
design likely influence whether dining is done quickly or slowly,
alone or with others, etc. Perhaps you have lived in a different
city (or country) and can contrast two versions of a grocery store.
That point is that, just as we do in class when we look at
different historical forms, we can compare and contrast different
built environments to think about what is ‘made to matter’ or
‘normalized’ through any one form.